The lot is virtually empty in the morning, but fills up after 6 p.m. most nights when the city stops charging at its meters, said Cheryl Woodward, the city's deputy director of economic development and housing.

Woodward said the city also might want to consider changing the hours it charges to park instead of fiddling with the rates.

For example, the city could choose not to charge during the relatively light period of 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. but extend the hours it charges past 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. to catch the downtown dinner traffic, Woodward said.